It will happen next week.
On Thursday, April 30, Malacañang said that the Philippines is ready to host the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu, which will happen next Thursday and Friday (May 7 and 8).
“According sa ating National Organizing Committee chair, si ES (Executive Secretary) Ralph Recto, nag-report siya at nag-update siya sa Pangulo at all systems go. So handa tayo,” saidPresidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro in a Palace press briefing.
Meanwhile, in the ASEAN press briefing, Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro said the province is prepared to host the leaders and their delegations for the summit.
“We, in Cebu, we are ready,” Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro said, adding that the security preparations are already 80-percent complete.
Meanwhile, there are also enhanced emergency response systems and hospitals will be on “code blue” alert throughout the summit.
She said rehearsals and dry runs will be conducted prior to the arrival of heads of state and delegates.
Delegations are expected to be concentrated in Lapu-Lapu City, where key summit activities will take place, including meetings at the newly constructed Mactan Expo in Mactan Newtown.
Nagiel Bañacia, head of the Lapu-Lapu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said preparations in the city have been underway since December.
These include the extensive information campaigns and traffic management planning.
Bañacia also noted that road closures will be limited to convoy movements and will be reopened immediately after.
He added that the two major bridges connecting Lapu-Lapu to mainland Cebu will remain open throughout the summit.
“We understand that daily life must continue even as we host this summit,” and added that 70 to 90 percent of emergency preparedness measures are already in place.
Authorities have also identified key routes from the airport to Mactan resorts, where most delegates will be billeted.
In Cebu City, Mayor Nestor Archival said traffic management plans are in place, with no full-day road closures expected.
“So far, there will be no major road closures, but we are ready if adjustments are needed,” he said, citing coordination with police and traffic management groups.
Delegates traveling from the airport to Cebu City are expected to pass through the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway.
In Mandaue City, Mayor Thadeo Ouano Jr. also cited ongoing infrastructure upgrades, including road asphalting, improved street lighting, and solar installations along key transit routes.
Barangays in the city have also been mobilized for clean-up and repainting efforts.
Ouano said traffic flow will remain uninterrupted, with increased security presence and continuous monitoring during the summit.
The Department of Public Works and Highways reported that preparations for national roads have been completed and urged the public to maintain cleanliness and dispose of waste properly during the event.
Baricuatro expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host the summit and called on Cebu residents to extend a warm welcome to delegates.
“This is a momentous event. Cebu is featured among all the 82 provinces,” said the governor. “Cebu has been chosen. That alone will inspire us to do our best, and let’s be hospitable to our guests. If there are delegates, give them a smile. Give them the warmest Cebuano welcome.”
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA CENTER
Meanwhile, the International Media Center for accredited local and international media outfits will open on May 5 at the Mactan World Museum.
It will provide the facilities, technical support, and operational services necessary to ensure timely, accurate, and comprehensive coverage of official summit activities.
The IMC is expecting an estimated 800 to 1,000 local and international media to cover the event. | PND
The facilities include dedicated media working areas, media pool waiting lounges, and high-speed wired and wireless internet connectivity to support news production and live reporting.
It will also feature a Main Briefing Hall for official press briefings and announcements, as well as a Secondary Briefing Room for delegation-led media engagements and smaller press interactions.
Broadcast and technical support facilities, meanwhile, will include the International Broadcast Center (IBC).
The said center will be equipped with broadcast booths, stand-up positions, master control and feed distribution systems, and a broadcast booking counter to assist media organizations with facility reservations and technical coordination.
An official video and photo distribution desk will provide accredited media with timely access to summit footage and images.
Live feed monitoring stations will allow journalists to monitor official coverage in real time.
Additional support amenities at the IMC include an on-site medical clinic, prayer rooms, media dining facilities, technical help desks, and designated parking areas for accredited media personnel.
The Philippines chairs ASEAN in 2026 with the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.”
It will highlight regional unity, resilience, and a commitment to a people-centered community, focusing on navigating challenges through collective action.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will join fellow leaders from 10 other member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states—Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam—during the Summit Proper on May 8.
Later this year, the Philippines will also host 49th ASEAN Summit this November.